HEB #580 and HEB with Ed Blog Update

    Today was a great day at H-E-B!  I went to HEB #580.  It was great.  But I can't tell you about it... yet.  When I first started the HEB With Ed blog, I wanted to share my day-to-day experiences at HEB, but as my audience has grown I want to do something more.

    This fall, I want to visit not just any HEB but all of the HEBs!†  I want to roll out a full list of the best HEBs around, complete with protips on the best parking and hottips on where the bathrooms are. I also want to add a little bit of suspense, so I will hold off on blogging about any HEB‡ until I've got the juicy dets on prices and produce, and the inside scoops on management and shopping carts.  Right now I have visited about 20 different HEBs.†  If you have a particular HEB you want me to review, leave a comment below.  Also if want me to check out a particular HEB feature or give me an in person tour of your favorite HEB, shoot me a PM.  Keep an eye out for my list of the Best HEBs in Austin coming this October.  Until then I hope you all have an H-E-Best day!

† In the greater Austin area

‡ Except Number 639

HEB Whitestone #580

    Today was a great day at H-E-B!  I headed over to the other HEB on Whitestone, HEB #580. This is one of the newest HEBs popping up in the fast growing Cedar Park area. Though not a HEB Plus, #580 is on the bigger size.  This fact is emphasized by the natural skylights and clear aisle layout. Seriously, the aisle layout is top tier. One can very clearly see from one side of the store to the other. A downside to #580 is the intersection of Palmer and Whitestone, on which it is located. The construction, traffic, and entrances make getting into the HEB park lot a chore.  For example, there is no entrance via Palmer northbound, meaning that you have to take two long left light onto Whitestone and Market St.  It is possible to take Colonial Pkwy behind the HEB, so keep a eye peeled if you are headed northbound on Palmer.  Hope you all have an H-E-Best day!

HEB Meuller #639 and HEB Brodie #428

    Today was a great day at H-E-B!  I stopped into HEB #639 around noon.  The HEB was surprisingly empty for a Sunday, and I had almost no wait during checkout. I chatted with the cashier only to discover that one of my favorite HEB cashiers, S, has moved away to San Antonio! Apparently he is pursuing a career in pediatrics.  Best of luck S!
   

    Some friends and I went swimming at the greenbelt this afternoon, so we decided to also check out HEB #428, Brodie Ln.  This is the first time for any of us to come to #428. You can imagine how excited we were!  First impressions: the storefront of #428 fits the early '00s.  But the small arches and simple white stonework hide a capacious, well lit interior. The spacious produce section sit underneath 20+ft windows facing east.  Overall I would say that #428 has some of the best looking produce around. Great selection and of course prices on everything here. Some downsides to this HEB is its poor positioning relative to Brodie and W. Cannon Dr.  Also its Bakery/Deli Section are in the middle of the store blocking travel from east to west. Outside the produce section, the selection is not all that great. For example, I could not find any buckwheat noodles. They also have self-checkouts, something I am hesitant of using. I don't know if this was just when I was there, but I had a man screaming "BREAD!" near me when I was checking out.  Overall HEB #428 was a good experience, and I am sure to be back!  I give it 7½ stars.  Hope you all have an H-E-Best day!

HEB Meuller #639

Photo taken by a nice shopper at #639

    Today was an awesome day at H-E-B! Since it is the weekend, I headed over to my home HEB, #639. On the way in, I saw an HEB pen laying on the ground.  I am an HEB paraphernalia collector, so I was very excited to add another item to my stash.  Unfortunately, the pen exploded in my hand!  I had ink all over me, and I couldn't use the pen!  I picked up some other litter in the parking lot, threw it away and headed inside.
   It is hard for me to describe exactly why I love HEB #639 so much. I assume that it is the feeling that everyone must have toward their home HEB. For me, this HEB feels like home, and the people here are my family. Seriously, the people here are some of the nicest around. You have a diverse mix of younger families from the Meuller development to the southwest, older residents from the 1970s developments to the northeast, and young singles looking to take advantage of the cheap rent all around. On this single trip, I got a random high five, a compliment on my shirt, and a separate compliment on my pants.  I also got great advice on purchasing fresh lettuce from a fellow shopper who seemed to be in the same high spirits as me. What a great day at HEB for me! I hope that you all have an H-E-Best day yourselves!

HEB Lakeline #659 & HEB Hancock #425

    Today was a great day at H-E-B! This evening I decided to visit the HEB at Lakeline, one of the best HEBs in North Austin. #659, is an newer HEB Plus, built a few years ago to replace the old HEB at 183 and Lake Creek.  Like HEB #639 and other modern HEBs, #659 has high ceilings, a chef, a deli, a high-end cheese section, and a small café.  I used to love coming this café during the day and ordering a small coffee for $1with unlimited refills.  The food is decent, but is limited to sandwiches and cold sides.  The reason I came to this HEB is that I was excited to try out the new automated scanning machine.  

   The automated scanning machine (see picture) is a 15 ft long conveyor belt that divides into two checkout counters. The items are placed at the head of the belt.  They then pass under the scanner, a ring which uses 3-D scanning technology to ring up the item.  Once through, the items are directed toward a bagging area where they can be bagged.  When the customer has finished loading their items, they place a special tag on the belt, which signals the end of the order and switches the belt to the other side.
    Since I was just testing the new feature, I placed a single item on the belt and walked over to the right bagging counter to interview the cashier. "The scanner is cool, when it works," explained the cashier . There are a few downsides to this machine.  First of it can only scan fruits or vegetables that are pre-weighed, and labeled.  It also cannot scan large items that you would normally leave in the cart, like bulk bottled water or televisions.  Also I was surprised when the cashier told me that he preferred smaller orders over bigger ones.  "If we're not paying attention, the items get backed up [beyond the switch]," he explained.
    All in all, I would still prefer to take my groceries to a regular old checkout counter.  The system did not seem much faster that the traditional manual scanner, but I am sure it save on labor costs or something.  If you are in a special mood and want to take a ride on the automated system, remember no produce and no long orders.  Heck, it is a little fun after all.

The new automated scanning system at HEB #659

   After heading home from HEB Lakeline, I remembered that I had forgotten something!  Of course that just means another trip to HEB for me, so I pulled off of I-35 and went to HEB Hancock #425. There I ran into my friends, O, V and T.  Since T is a regular here, I asked him about a few of the unique features #425 has to offer. Again T recommended to extensive vegan and alternative food section.  Sitting just north of the beer and south of the bulk sections, the alternative food section is an menagerie of vegan favorites, gluten-free substitutes, and holistic food options.  Fair warning, the bulk food section is closed off from the hours of 9PM-6AM. So you must take the south path into this area if you are shopping at night.
    T and I also discussed the overall layout of #425. We both agreed that the number of entrances, 3, was a bit excessive.  Also if you prefer to shop with one of the mini carts, they are only available at the middle entrance so plan accordingly.  I also found that the oddly designed center section-bulk/vegan, beer/wine and flower/ballon made traveling north-south in that area a bit difficult.  On the way out, my friends and I each took a turn spinning the HE-Buddy wheel.  Well, that's the news from HEB Hancock.  Hope you all have an H-E-Best day!